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Sadly we lost Dolly in December 2020, after carrying out tenotomy surgery on her worst leg in the hope that that would give her more time with us.  We tried everything we could to save her, but unfortunately the damage from years of neglect was too great.
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Click on the photos to see Dolly's story.....
Shetland pony Dolly was rescued from a life of laminitis and neglect in May 2016, aged around 7.  All 4 feet were horrendously overgrown and infected, and she could barely walk.  As a result, her body was twisted and deformed.  She came to The Laminitis Site, where her feet were slowly returned to a normal shape with regular trimming guided by x-rays, and the infection treated with CleanTrax soaks and antibiotic sprays.  She received daily TTouch therapy and massage under the guidance of TTouch practitioner Danielle Dibbens, was micro-chipped, vaccinated, wormed and had her teeth checked.  She was put on a low sugar/starch diet based on analysed hay and a balancer (Spillers Lite + Lean) fed with a low sugar chaff (Dengie HiFi Molasses Free), with no or (later) restricted grass, and once she was more comfortable, she had blood tests to check her insulin, ACTH and glucose levels, to assess her risk of further laminitis.

Although Dolly made good progress, and cantered within a year of arriving at TLS, the permanent damage she suffered to her feet and body - she had asymmetry through her body particularly towards the tail, abnormal growth of her front feet, a stilted front leg gait, her hind legs twisted on soft ground, and x-rays diagnosed reduced bone density throughout her body and arthritis in her hind legs - meant that she needed constant specialist care and was not suitable for rehoming. ​ In 2020 her left fore deep digital flexor tendon became obviously thickened and contracted, and in the hope of maintaining some mobility she needed a tenotomy operation.
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(Left) Dolly's reduced bone density, compared to the same bone in a healthy horse (right), taken on the same day with the same x-ray equipment.
Unfortunately during the operation it was discovered that there was significant degeneration and damage to her ligaments and joints as well as her tendons.  The operation was completed successfully, but in the following days it became clear that Dolly would not regain a good level of comfort and quality of life, and the heart breaking decision was made to let her leave her damaged body and fly free.

The Laminitis Site continues to care for horses and ponies like Dolly, and any donation, no matter how small, is gratefully received and helps us to help horses and ponies in need.  ​
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​Dolly's story can be found on her Facebook page: Dolly's Rehabilitation.
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